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Trans Canada Trail in
Central Alberta
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Media News re trails 2006
Oct. 23, 2006, Press Release,
Red Deer
Trans Canada Trail Registration Confirmed
The
Central Alberta Regional Trails Society (CARTS) is pleased to announce
the registration of 70.6 kilometres of trail designated as Trans Canada
Trail.
Debbie Olsen, CARTS chair, said, "We're absolutely
thrilled to be able to make this announcement. We have been working on
this trail for more than 4 years now. A lot of volunteer time and
community effort have come together to make this happen. Now we look
forward to getting on with construction!"
The 70.6 kms. of registration are along the Trans
Canada Trail route from Penhold to Wetaskiwin. The breakdown of the
registration is as follows:
Town of Lacombe 7.1 kms.
Town of Ponoka 5.2 kms.
Red Deer County 16 kms.
Lacombe County 23.8 kms.
Ponoka County 18.5 kms.
The registrations include some existing trail as well
as prospective trail. TCT designation allows these communities to apply
to the TransCanada Trail Foundation for some funding as well as
participating in the marketing benefits of being part of the TCTrail.
CARTS applauds these communities for their proactive approach to trails
and recognizing the recreation, social, health and economic benefits
that trails provide.
CARTS is a non-profit society which supports the
responsible development of recreational trails in Central Alberta. CARTS
also supports and promotes the TransCanada Trail in Central Alberta.
For further information, contact the chair, Debbie
Olsen at 403-782-3017 or Derry Armstrong, TCT co-ordinator for Central
Alberta at 403-843-4351.
Oct. 16, 2006, Red Deer Advocate, by Laura Tester
Trail group on path to funding
A
Central Alberta trail group is optimistic that 80 km of rural trails
will soon become part of the Trans Canada Trail after five years in the
making.
Central Alberta Regional Trails Society expects to hear
any day whether its planned trails between Wetaskiwin and Penhold will
be included in the national trail system.
Debbie Olsen, society president and Lacombe town
councillor, said they stand to benefit greatly from the partnership.
The national charity will donate money toward building
the trails in the rural areas.
The trails will extend from Wetaskiwin to Lacombe and
from there to Blackfalds, Red Deer, Springbrook and Penhold.
Some community trails have already been designated as
part of the Trans Canada Trail, including 29 km in Red Deer.
Trans Canada Trail will also pay for bridge design
costs. Two or three bridges may be needed over Central Alberta rivers,
depending on where the route goes.
Derry Armstrong, Trans Canada Trail Foundation co-ordinator
for Central Alberta, said they are also optimistic that Canadian Forces
engineers will help install the bridges at no cost to the society.
Alberta Trail Net has also committed $100,000 toward
building trails in the Ponoka area.
Olsen said they're eager to be a part of Trans Canada
Trail because of its name recognition.
These trails are becoming tourist attractions, she
said.
The Trans Canada Trail aims to have the main trunk done
across the provinces and territories by 2010.
The Central Alberta group has been planning the trails
for about five years.
Olsen blamed part of the delay on the province, which
she said has done little to finance recreational trails.
"We have less trails than any other part in the
country."
The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association will press
the province to provide money for developing and maintaining trails, as
well as create a policy framework to encourage the building of trails.
These recommendations originated from Town of Lacombe and City of Red
Deer leaders.
Trail development has also been slow going because of the extensive work
involved in designing routes and securing right-of-ways, Olsen said.
Armstrong has been working out these details. His contract began in the
spring of 2005 and ends next spring.
Alberta Trail Net executive director Linda Strong-Watson said Trans
Canada Trail officials approached 2010 Olympic organizers in Vancouver
to use some of its recreational trails for the torch run. There's no
word yet on whether that will happen, she said.
Media News re trails 2008
Media News re trails 2007
This year's Media News re trails
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